Fencing with PRINTECH Coating
When manufacturing fences and other enclosing structures, wood and natural stone were traditionally used. However, both of these materials had drawbacks: both wood and stone suffered from external influences, leading to a relatively short lifespan (except for hard mountain rocks, but they were challenging to process).
Similar problems were encountered with metal fences. While sheet metal is technologically practical, a fence made of steel profiles may not look very attractive, and steel itself is susceptible to corrosion.
The situation changed with the introduction of polymer protective and decorative coatings to the market. These coatings not only protected the steel base more effectively from oxidation than a galvanized layer but also provided it with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The next stage in technological development was the introduction of offset printing: thanks to it, images imitating the texture of natural wood or stone are applied to the metal. It is this technology that produces the most beautiful, durable, and long-lasting fences from the “MehBud” factory.
PRINTECH: Coating Features
The “MehBud” factory, in the production of enclosing structures, utilizes thin-sheet galvanized steel with a polymer coating as the primary raw material. However, traditional technology for applying polymer to metal only allows for a monochromatic surface—more complex methods are needed to imitate natural wood.
One of the most effective technologies for applying durable photorealistic images to galvanized metal and other solid surfaces was developed by the company “Dongbu Steel” (South Korea). Developers adapted offset printing technology (commonly used in printing) to work specifically with metal:
- Image Preparation: The process begins with preparing the image. The texture of natural wood or stone is photographed and processed in graphic editors. As of today, the PRINTECH catalog includes more than 80 texture options available for application to metal.
- Image Transfer: The prepared image is then transferred to the metal base. The picture is not deformed or distorted during this process.
- Protective Coating: The applied coating is protected by a layer of polymer that is resistant to atmospheric and mechanical influences.
- Finish Layer: A thin final layer is applied over the polymer. This layer is completely transparent, providing the necessary depth to the wood texture.
Thus, during the application of the PRINTECH coating, the metal blank undergoes a minimum of 3 painting chambers and 3 high-temperature chambers. These chambers are where the material is treated, baked, and polymerized.
Structure of Steel with PRINTECH Coating
A steel sheet with PRINTECH coating has a rather complex structure:
- Base Layer: The foundation is made of galvanized steel sheet. The thicker the metal, the stronger the blank for the enclosing structure, but this also increases its weight. “MehBud” company uses metal with a thickness ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 mm (sometimes more) in the production of fences and barriers.
- Primer Layer: A primer layer, approximately 5 microns thick, is applied over the galvanized layer. It ensures maximum adhesion of the decorative coating to the base.
- Base Polymer Layer: The next layer is the base polymer, up to 20 microns thick. It serves as a foundation for offset photoprinting and provides elasticity to the material for better resistance to mechanical damage.
- Photorealistic Image Application: A photorealistic image is applied to the base using special printers. The thickness of the offset film is no more than 3 microns, yet despite its minimal thickness, the coating remains durable, ensuring the quality of PRINTECH.
- Protective Polymer Layer: The offset layer is protected by spraying up to 10 microns of polymer coating. Polyester (with a service life of at least 10 years) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used as protective polymers. The latter is preferable due to its greater strength and durability (retaining its qualities for 20 years or more). Therefore, in the production of fences with PRINTECH coating, we specifically use this modification.
- Final Transparent Layer: The final transparent layer has a small thickness and primarily serves a decorative function.
The total thickness of such a multi-layered PRINTECH coating is approximately 35 microns. On one hand, this may seem relatively small, but on the other hand, the layer becomes sufficiently thick for effective protection of the metal against various external influences.
Advantages of PRINTECH Coating
- The first obvious advantage is the appearance. A fence with PRINTECH coating looks like wood from 50, 10, or even 5 meters away. At the same time, the beautiful appearance is maintained even when natural wood darkens, and its texture loses sharpness: this is possible thanks to the use of light-resistant pigments and the high resolution of printing devices.
- The next important aspect is corrosion resistance. PRINTECH coating based on PVDF protects metal no worse than conventional polymer compounds or powder coatings. Fences with PRINTECH decor serve for a very long time primarily due to high resistance to oxidation.
- Vandal resistance of the PRINTECH coating is also sufficient. In principle, it can be scratched, but doing so is not so simple: the polymer does not peel off from the base even under strong impact. The same applies to attempts at ignition: PVDF does not ignite and does not support combustion.
In this case:
- We select textures that most accurately simulate wood species common in Ukraine. This allows achieving perfect visual similarity of the metal panel fence with a fence made of natural materials.
- The factory’s equipment is configured to work with metal coated with PRINTECH. Thanks to this, during the profile shaping, the integrity of the polymer layer is not compromised, and offset printing is not damaged, maintaining its clarity.
- The installation of a fence with PRINTECH coating facilitates further maintenance. The smooth decorative coating is easily cleaned even from heavy dirt, and small impurities remain invisible against the background of the wood texture.
Metal fences with a "wood-like" texture from the "Mehbud" factory
Application Sphere:
- Private houses and cottages: Fences with PRINTECH coating are an excellent choice for landscaping suburban areas, providing an attractive appearance and reliable protection.
- Commercial properties: These fences are often used to landscape the territories of business centers, shopping complexes, restaurants, and other commercial properties where aesthetics, durability, and safety are important.
- Landscape design: Widely used in landscape design to create beautiful and functional elements for decorating gardens, parks, and other green areas.
PRINTECH – Better Than Wood!
Choosing a metal fence with the protective-decorative PRINTECH coating imitating natural wood is justified primarily for design reasons. However, from a practical standpoint, this material outperforms many alternatives. Therefore, the investment in a fence should be seen as an enhancement to the appearance of your property and the durability of the structure.
Crucial factors influencing the appearance and lifespan of a fence with PRINTECH coating include the quality of production and installation. That’s why we recommend turning to the experts at the “MehBud” factory, who possess extensive experience in this field.